Printer



May 1, 1962 G. 'r. GRAY 3,031,955

PRINTER Original Filed June 26, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GEOFFREYT- GR AY I WMAZAW AT RNEYS May 1, 1962 G. T. GRAY 3,031,955

PRINTER Original Filed June 26, 195B 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEOFFREYT- GRAY W rgmlaly4 ATT RNEYS G. T. GRAY May 1, 1962 PRINTER vSheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 26, 1958 May 1, 1962 G. T. GRAY3,031,955

PRINTER Original Filed June 26, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 :5: it 60 Q I 257358 I:1" ZZ [Ni Emmi.

GEOFFREY T. GRAY ATTOR EYS G. T. GRAY May 1, 1962 PRINTER Ofiginal FiledJune 26, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 GEOFFREY G. T. GRAY May 1, 1962 PRINTER7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed June 26. 1958 INVENTOR. GEOFFREY T- GRAYATT RNEY May 1, 1962 G. T. GRAY 3,031,955

PRINTER Original Filed June 26, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.GEOFFREY T- GRAY I 2 y I ATTORY YS 7 tea 3 Claims.

This device relates to an improved printing device.

The improved printing device is of simple and low cost construction, yetis rugged, reliable and accurate, and is particularly well suited foruse in industrial installations. It is especially useful in industrialinstallations. in conjunction with a weighing scale for printing weightindications in digital form.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a printerwith easymeans of access to all of its working parts so that it is easy to cleanand service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printer with easilyremovable means for guiding an. ink ribbon and a record strip or theribbon alone through and for supporting the ink ribbon and the recordstrip or the ribbon alone in a printing station.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings.

According to the invention, a printer is provided with easily removablemeans for guiding an ink ribbon and a record strip or the ribbon alonethrough and for supporting the ink ribbon and the record strip or theribbon alone in a printing station. The printerhas a basic printingmechanism which is shown and described in detail in US. applicationSerial No. 693,975, filed November l, 1957 in the names of Clarence E.Adler and Geoffrey T. Gray, now Patent No. 2,922,361, to which auxiliaryprinting mechanisms are added in various arrangements to suit variousprinting applications. The auxiliary printing mechanisms include aselective number device for printing weight identification characterssuch as Ore, Limestone, Tare, Gross and Net and selective numbers suchas customer order or code numbers, a consecutive number device forprinting a consecutive number adjacent each weight print, and time anddate stamps. Such devices and'stamps are so mounted and so positionablein the printer that there is flexibility of positioning of the printedmatter. Also gaps can be left in the printed lines for the use ofcustomers. The printer features easy access tov all of its working partswhich makes it easy to clean and service, the printer having improvedremovable ink ribbon or ink ribbon and record strip guides to facilitatecleaning the printing type.

A preferred form of the printer is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a weighing scale dial mechanism showingthe location of the printer as it is mounted on a weighing scale;

FIG. II is a fragmentary perspective view of the printer with part ofits case removed to reveal the printing mechanism;

FIG. III is a perspective view from another angle of the printer withthe case in place but opened up to reveal the printing mechanism;

FIG. IV is an enlarged elevational view of the end of the printer whichmay be seen in FIG. II;

FIG. V is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line VV of FIG.IV;

FIG. VI is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.IV;

FIG. VII is' an enlarged end elevational view of' the Patented May 1,1962 ice;

printer as seen from a position at the left of FIG. III looking towardthe printer;

FIG. VIII is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view as seenfrom a position in front of FIG. I looking toward the printer, the casebeing removed to reveal the inner mechanism;

FIG. IX is an end elevationalview of the ink ribbon and record stripguides which are removable from the printer as a unit assembly and whichare illustrated in a similar view in their position in the printer inFIG. VII;

FIG. X is a horizontal sectional view of the ink ribbon and record stripguides taken substantially along the line X-X of FIG. VII, certainadjuncts being omitted for clarity of illustration; and

FIG. XI is a schematic view of a modified consecutive number device, theunmodified device being shown in front elevation in its position in theprinter in FIG. VIII.

These specific figures and the accompanying description are intendedmerely to illustrate the invention'and not to limit its scope.

For the purpose of illustration, the printer is shown in connection withan ordinary dial type weighing scale. Such a scale comprises a dialhousing 1 that contains automatic load counterbalancing and indicatingmechanism which includes an indicator 2 that is rotated throughincrements of angle which are proportional to incre ments of'weightapplied to the scale and that indicates such weights on a stationary,indicia-bearing' chart 3. The dial housing is mounted on the top of ascale column 4 of which only the top portion is shown in FIG. I.

Mechanical chart reading mechanism which isshown and described in US.application Serial No. 643,708, filed March 4, 1957, now US. Patent No.2,948,463, is located within the dial housing 1 and is cable-connectedto the printer which is contained within its housing 5 and case 6 andoperated according to the scale readings. The printer may be operated byany of the usual means for setting up printing members, such as typewheels or seetors, or by hand.

The basic mechanism within the printer case 6 is shown and described indetail in the hereinbefore referred to U.S. application Serial No.693,975. Referring to FIGS. II and III, cables 7, one for. each decadein a four place number, are led through Bowden cable casings 8 that areattached by means of adjustment clips 9 toa stationary support 10 withinthe dial housing 1 and that run through an opening 11 in the dialhousing 1 into the printer case 6. The ends of the cables 7 areconnected to return springs 12 within the case 6. The basic printingmechanism is driven by means of a horizontal shaft 13 which is driven inturn by the motor of the mechanical chart reading mechanism within thedial housing 1 as described in the hereinbeforereferred to US. application Serial No. 693,975. Every time that the chart readingmechanism makes a weight reading it sets up the basic printing mechanismby means of the cables 7 and also turns the shaft 13 through onerevolution to make a print. The shaft 13 extends from the dial housing 1into the printer case 6 to drive the mechanism there-: in and alsocarries a miter gear 14 which meshes with a cooperating miter gear 15that drives thatpart of the printer mechanism (roller printer) containedwithin the printer housing 5. Every time that the horizontal shaft 13 isturned through one revolution it drives the miter gear 15 through onerevolution.

The basic printing mechanism within the printer case 6 is driven bymeans of cams 16 and 17 (FIGS. IV and V) fixed to the shaft 13, theshaft 13 being journaled within the dial housing 1 in an extension ofthesupport ltl' (FIG. II) and within the printer case 6 in a vertical andframe-18 (FIGS. IV and V). Horizontal, sleevelike spacers 19, two ofwhich are shown'in" FIG. III,

space the vertical end frame 18 from the dial housing 1, bolts 20 whichextend through openings 21 in the end frame 18 and through thesleeve-like spacers 19 functioning to attach the end frame to the dialhousing.

The cam 16 functions to reciprocate a cam follower plate 22, asindicated by the double-ended arrow in FIG. IV, that drives an inkedribbon reverse mechanism and a record strip mechanism. The cam followerplate 22 is connected to a slidable bar 23 by means of a togglemechanism 24 which comprises a bracket 25 fixed to the slidable bar 23,an arm 26 pivotally mounted on the bracket 25 by means of a pivot pin27, and a bowed spring 28 the ends of which engage in opposed V-notchesin the bracket 25 and in the arm 26. An upwardly extending portion ofthe arm 26 is movable within limits defined by the ends of a notched-outportion 29 (FIG. V) of the bar 23, the bar 23 being slidable in theslotted arms 30 of a bracket 31 which is attached to the end frame 18 bymeans of screws 32. The bracket 31 also functions to support a shoulderscrew 33 which cooperates with a horizontal slot 34 in the cam followerplate 22, the reciprocable plate 22 being slidable on the shoulder ofthe screw 33 and being pivotally attached on the upper end of the arm 26of the toggle mechanism 24 by means of a pivot pin 35.

The end frame 18 has mounted therefrom a pair of shafts 36 and 37 (FIG.IV) on which is fixed a pair of ribbon spools 38 and 39 (FIGS. II, III,and VII), respectively. Adapted to be wound and unwound alternately onthe spools 38 and 39 is an inked ribbon 40 which is moved back and forththrough a printing station as indicated by the double-ended arrows inFIG. VII. Pinned to the shafts 36 and 37, respectively, is a pair ofratchet Wheels 41 and 42 the teeth of which are arranged so that theyare driven in opposite directions. Reciprocation of the cam folowerplate 22 to the right as viewed in FIG. IV causes a pawl 43 (FIGS. IVand V) that is carried by an end of the slidable bar 23 and that extendsthrough an opening 44 in the end frame 18 to cooperate with and drivethe ratchet wheel 42 which rotates its spool 39 slightly so as toadvance the ribbon 40. The slidable bar 23 and the toggle mechanism 24are driven through a definite prescribed stroke which is less than thetotal range of travel of the slidable bar 23. When the toggle mechanism24 is operated, the stroke of the slidable bar 23 is shifted from oneend of its range of travel to the other. With the arm 26 of the togglemechanism 24 at the left end of the notched-out portion 29, as shown inFIGS. IV and V, the slidable bar 23 and the toggle mechanism 24 arereciprocable in a stroke so that the pawl 43 drives the ratchet wheel 42counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. IV and so that a pawl 45 that iscarried by the other end of the bar 23 and that extends through anopening 46 in the end frame 18 is reciprocable in an area where it doesnot cooperate with and drive its ratchet wheel 41, the spool 38 carriedby the shaft 36 acting as a supply roll for the ribbon 4b as the ribbonis wound upon the spool 39.

I The bowed spring 28 acts as a compression link between the bracket 25and the arm 26 of the toggle mechanism. The force exerted by the spring28 tending to keep the arm 26 against one end or the otherof thenotchedout portion 29 is slightly greater than the force required todrive the spool on which the ribbon 46 is being wound. During operation,the spring force can be overcome when the pawl doing the driving can nolonger rotate its ratchet its ratchet wheel, such as when the ribbon 40tightens as it reaches its end on the supply roll. When the tension inthe ribbon 40 increases to a certain point because the ribbon hasreached its end, the pawl driving the ratchet wheel of the take-up spoolprevents the slidable bar 23 from reciprocating. The reciprocating camfollower plate 22 continues to move, however, and in so doing actuatesthe toggle mechanism 24 to shift the stroke of the slidable bar 23 towind the ribbon 40 on what formerly was the supply spool. When thetoggle mechanism shifts to the right end of the notched-out part 29, asviewed in FIGS. IV and V, to shift the stroke of the slidable bar 23from one end of its range of travel to the other. The slidable bar 23and the toggle mechanism 24 then are reciprocable in a position so thatthe pawl 45 drives the ratchet wheel 41 clockwise as viewed in FIG. IVand so that the pawl 43 is reciprocable in an area Where it does notcooperate with and drive its ratchet wheel 42, the spool 39 carried bythe shaft 37 acting as a supply roll for the ribbon 46 as the ribbon isWound upon the spool 38. Hence, the inked ribbon 40 automatically isWound and unwound alternately on the spools 38 and 39 by the ribbonreverse mechanism.

Fixed respectively to the ratchet wheels 41 and 42 is a pair of groovedhubs 47 and 48 (FIG. VII) each of which receives a spring 49 which actsas a friction brake. The springs 49 are looped around the hubs 47 and 48and have their opposite ends stationarily attached at 50 to the endframe 18. The springs 49 maintain the inked ribbon 46 under propertension to present it to the printing station without too much slack andprevent the driven one of the spools 38 and 39 from backing up duringthe return stroke of the bar 23.

While the cam follower plate 22 is driving the inked ribbon 46 one wayor the other, the plate 22 also drives the record strip mechanism in thedirection indicated by the single-ended arrows in FIG. VII. The recordstrip mechanism includes a pair of shafts SI and 52 (FIG. IV), a papersupply spool 53 (FIG. VII) rotatably journaled on shaft SI and a papertake-up spool 54 (FIGS. II and III) fixed to turn as one with shaft 52,a translucent record strip 55 being drawn from the supply spool 53 andbeing wound upon the driven take-up spool 54. A friction brake spring 56(FIG. VII), which is like the springs 49, cooperates with a grooved hub57 on the spool 53 and functions to maintain the record strip 55 underproper tension.

The driven paper take-up spool 54 is turned by a drive which includesthe reciprocable cam follower plate 22, a rockable plate 58 which ispivotable about the axis of a rotatable shaft 59 (FIGS. IV, VI and VII)and which is connected to the cam follower plate 22 by means of a stud60 that engages a vertical slot 61 in the cam follower plate 22 (FIG.IV) and a driving pawl 62 which is attached to the rockable plate 58.Horizontal reciprocation of the cam follower plate 22 rocks the plate 58about the axis of the shaft 59. Clockwise rocking of the plate 58, asviewed in FIG. IV, causes the driving pawl 62 to turn a ratchet wheel 63clockwise, the wheel 63 being fixed to the shaft 59 which is journaledin the end frame 18. The teeth on the ratchet wheel 63 are arranged sothat the wheel is driven in the one direction only, an anti-backup pawl64, which is urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 65 connectedbetween the end frame 18 and the pawl 64, preventing counterclockwiserotation of the ratchet wheel 63 as viewed in FIG. IV.

The ratchet wheel 63 which is fixed to the shaft 59 turns the shaft anda rubber pinch roll 66 attached to the shaft counterclockwise as viewedin FIG. VII. A second rubber pinch roll 67, in spring-urged contact withthe first pinch roll 66, is carried by a bracket 68 on a shaft 69 thatis held in place on the end frame 18 by a nut 76a (FIG. IV). The pair ofrubber pinch rolls 66 and 67 is a gear connected as shown in thehereinbefore referred to US. application Serial No. 693,975 by means ofa pair of spur gears (not shown) one fixed to the shaft 59 and one fixedto a shaft 70 on which the second rubber pinch roll 67 is mounted, theshaft 70 being journaled in the bracket 68. The pair of spur gearsinsures that the pinch rolls 66 and 67 move together, the first roll 66turning counterclockwise and second roll 67 turning clockwise as viewedin FIG. VII.

The pinch roll 67 is spring-urged into contact with the drive roll 66 topinch the record strip 55 therebetween.

The drive roll 66 is carried on the ratchet driven shaft 59 so that itturns a fixed amount for each printing operation thus spacing printedimpressions uniformly along the length of the strip. The take-up spool54, however, is driven by a belt 71 (FIG. 111) (preferably a springbelt) which stretches and slips to maintain a generally constant tensionon the record strip 55 as it Winds on the spool 54. The belt 71 connectsa groove 72 (FIG. VI) in a hub 73 that turns as one with the ratchetdriven shaft 59 to a circumferential groove 74 (FIG. III) in the papertake-up shaft 52.

The free ends of the inked ribbon shafts 36 and 37 and of the recordstrip shafts 51 and52 are journale'd'in eccentric bearings 75 (FIG.VIII) which are adjustably attached to a removable end plate 76 by meansof nuts 77. The end plate 76 is removably mounted on the ends of a pairof horizontal spacer posts 78, that are fixed at 79 (FIG. VIII) to theend frame 18, by means of a pair of spring urged-apart clamps 80 whichare slidably mounted on the end plate 76 by means of shoulder screws 81.The plate 76 is removed by pinching cars 82. on the clamps 80 togetherso that the ends of the clamps 81 are withdrawn from grooves 83, one ofwhich is shown in FIG. VIII, in the ends of the horizontal posts 78 toobtain access to the interior of the printer. Parallelism of the inkedribbon shafts 36 and 37 and of the record strip shafts 51 and 52 isadjusted by loosening the nuts 77 and by pivoting the bearings 75.

The inked ribbon 40 is guided around the outer surface of a U shapedstrip 84, as illustrated in FIGS. 11, III and VII. A second similarlyshaped strip 85 which is in very slightly spaced relationship with thefirst strip functions as a guide for the record strip 55,-the stripbeing moved between the strips or guides. The bottoms of the guides 84and 85 each define an open ended slot 36 which in turn defines aprinting station 87. As shown in FIG. X, the slots 86 open toward theend frame 18 to which the guides are removably attached as hereinafterdescribed. A feature of the printer is in the design of the ink ribbonand record strip guides 84 and 85 which permits them to be removedwithout dismantling any parts of the printer in a matter of seconds sothat printing type, hereinafter described, can be cleaned.

The left hand ends of the guides 84 and 85 as viewed in FIG. VIII arespaced slightly apart by means of a pair of relatively narrow spacers 88each of which extends from a point above guide 84 down to a slot 86. Theright hand ends of the guides are spaced at similar distance by means ofdimples 89 on the inner surface of guide 84, the U-shaped space 90between the guides having its edges defined by the spacers 88 on the onehand and the dimples 89 on the other receiving the record strip 55.

The guides 84 and 85 are welded to the spacers 88 to make a unitassembly. A pair of blocks 91 is secured to the inner surface of guide85 at the spacers 88 by means of screws 92, one being at each of theupper ends of guide 84. Each of the blocks 91 is provided with a stud 93which studs are received in horizontal openings in the end frame 18 forthe purpose of removably mounting the guides thereon. A latch bar 94slidably mounted for motion in a horizontal path on the end frame 18 bymeans of shoulder screws 95 has an opened ended catch slot 96 which,when the latch bar 94 is in locked position as shown in FIGS. IV and X,is received in a circumferential groove 97 in the left hand one ofthe'studs 93 as viewed in FIG. X, the stud 93 extending through the endframe 18 into the path of the latch bar 94. The latch bar 94 has aclosed ended catch slot 98- having an enlarged end 99 which slot isreceived in a circumferential groove 106 in the other one of the studs,such stud also extending through the end frame 18 into the path of thelatch bar 94. When the latch bar 94 is in locked position, the enlargedend 99 of the catch slot 98 is positioned to the right of the stud 93 asviewed in FIG.

IV. Finger pressure on the handle 191 of the latch bar 94 moves the barto the left as viewed in FIG. IV to position the enlarged end 99 of thecatch slot 98 at its stud 93 and moves the opened ended catch slot 96out of its cooperating relationship with its stud 93 to free the studsso that the guides 84 and can be removed from the end frame 18 in adirection parallel to the axes of the studs.

When the ink ribbon and record strip guides 84 and 85 are locked inplace on the end frame 18, the guides are rigidly supported, since theirends at the end frame 18 are securely held to the end frame and theirends remote from the end frames are of solid construction, the openended slots 86 in the bottoms of the guides not extending all of the wayback to such remote ends of the guides. However, when the studs 93 areremoved from their openings in the end frame 18, the open ended slottedconstruction of the guides causes them to flexibly separate or more orless fall apart at the end frame 18 so that the blocks 91 can clear anyobstructions as hereinafter described as the guides are removed as aunit assembly from the printer. The record strip 55 is threaded betweenthe guides 84 and 85 when they are locked on the end frame 18 by pushingan edge of the record strip edgewise past the dimples 89 until therecord strip is received in the space between the guides. As the recordstrip is moved during printing cycles between the guides, its edges areguided between the spacers 88 on the one hand and the dimples 89 on theother.

It is not practical to attempt to have the printing sector-s 104positioned exactly by the chart reading mechanism because of the usualmanufacturing tolerances necessary in mass production. Therefore, theprinting sectors 194 are pivoted clockwise, as viewed in FIG. VII, aboutthe axis of the sector shaft 106 by the cables 7 which are operated bythe chart reading devices only to approximate printing positions.Clockwise pivoting of the printing sectors 104 extends the returnsprings 12. Final positioning of the printing sectors 10 4, i.e.,accurate aligning for the printing operation, is accomplished by meansof a single centering and locking detent bar 114 that is carriedhorizontally between a pair of detent actuating links 115 and that isreceived in locating slots 116 (FIG. XI) in the printing sectors 104 topivot the printing sectors 104 clockwise additionally into accuratelyaligned relationshhip with each other so that the-printed matter appearsin a straight line. After finally aligning the printing sectors 194, thedetent bar 114 locks the sectors so that they do not move during theprinting operation.

The detent actuating links 115 are each slidable in a grooved bushing117 (FIG. VIII) on the stationary sector shaft 106, slots 118 (FIG. VII)in the links 115 being received in the grooves in the bushings. Thedetent bar 114 is carried between the links 115 near the bottoms of thelinks, the upper ends of the links 115 each being pivotally connected toa short arm 119 at 120 each of which arms is clamped, by means of bolt121 and nut 122, to a shaft 128 that is mounted for rotation from theend frame 18. The shaft is driven by a long arm 124 (FIG. 1V) that iskeyed to the shaft 123 at its upper end and that carries a cam followingroller 125 at its lower end, the roller 125 constantly being urged intocontact with the periphery of the cam 17 by means of-a spring 126interconnecting the lower part of the long arm 124 and a stationarybracket 127 that is attached by means of screws 128 to the end frame 18.

While the chart reading device is setting up the printing sectors 104,the cam following roller 125 is on a high part 129 of the cam 17 asillustrated in FIG. IV. Movement of the roller 125 onto the high part12.9 of the cam 17 pivots the shaft-123, operatively connected to theroller by means of the long arm 12.4, clockwise to lift the pair ofdetent actuating links 115 into their positions indicated in FIG. IV. Insuch position of the-long arm 124, the detent bar 114 is lifted out ofthe locating slots 116 by the links 115 so that the printing sectors1414 are freely movable by the cables 7. Movement of the roller 125 ontothe low part 130 of the cam 117 permits the spring 126 to draw the longarm 124 against a resilient stop 131 mounted on the bracket 127. In suchposition of the long arm 12.4, the detent actuating links 115 arelowered and the detent bar 114 is received in the locating slots 116 ofthe printing sectors 104 as illustrated in FIG. VII to finally align andlock the printing sectors 104 prior to the roller printing operation.

Referring to FIGS. VII and VIII, the bushing 117 for the left handdetent actuating link 115 is spaced from the end frame 18 by means of aspacer 136 on the sector shaft 106 which spacer extends through astationary strut 137 that is fixed on the cable guide shaft 110 and thatfunctions to take part of the thrust applied by a roller printer whichis contained within the printer housing 5. A pair of spacers 13Sseparates such bushing 117 from the adjacent one of the printing sectors104 which as hereinbefore described are separated from each other byspacers 107. The left hand one of the spacers 1117 can be omitted and apunctuation plate substituted in its place. Such a punctuation plate isnot shown for clarity of illustration but it may be like the stationarystrut 137 except that on its lower end it carries a printing characterwhich prints an appropriately placed comma in the four place printednumber. The punctuation plate also may be used to print appropriatelyplaced decimal points in some applications.

Additional spacers 139 separate a second stationary strut 140 from theright hand one of the printing sectors 1114. The strut 140 is fixed onthe cable guide shaft 110, like the first strut 137, has a hole throughwhich the stationary sector shaft 106 passes, has a large clearance hole141 to allow for movement of the detent bar 114, and has the samefunction as the strut 137, Le, to take part of the thrust imparted bythe roller printer. In addition, the second strut 140 functions to printLB. by means of type 142 fixed to its lower end. An auxiliary printingsector 143 which is like the sectors 104 is mounted on the shaft 106 andis separated from the strut 140 by means of spacers 144, the hub .145 ofthe sector 143 being against the right hand one of the bushings 117. Theprinting sector 143 is mounted on the shaft 106 in the same way that thesectors 104 are and has locating slots 146 (FIG. VII) like the locatingslots 116 in the sectors 104 and type 147 in the printing station 87.

While the detent bar 114 is received in the locating slots 116 and 146of the printing sectors 1114 and 143, respectively, as illustrated inFIG. VII to finally align and lock the sectors, roller printer mechanismcontained within the printer housing completes the printing operation.The structure and operation of the roller printer is shown and describedin the hereinbefore referred to US. application Serial No. 693,975. Aticket or other element 148 (FIGS. I-III) is placed in a narrow opening149 between the bottom of the printer case 6 and the top of a table 150which supports the ticket to receive an imprint in juxtaposition withthe printing type 108, 142 and 147 in the printing station 87. Theticket 148 is pressed against the inked ribbon 40, the inked ribbonagainst the translucent record strip 55, and the record strip againstthe face of the type. Since the inked ribbon is pinched between theticket 148 and the translucent record strip 55, an inked imprint is madeon the ticket and a similar inked imprint is made on the continuousstrip for record purposes, the imprint on the ticket being read directlywhile the imprint on the record strip is read through the translucentstrip from the back or unprinted side of the strip.

In the overall operation of the printer, every time that the horizontalshaft 13 is turned through one revolution it turns the earns 16 and 17counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. IV through one revolution. The chartreading mechanism which is located within the dial housing 1 makes aweight reading and sets up, by means of the cables 7, the weightprinting sectors 104 according to the scale reading, the detent bar 114being lifted out of the locating slots 116 and 146 by the links so thatthe printing sectors 104 are freely movable by means of the cables 7while the reading of the chart takes place. While the chart readingdevice is setting up the printing sectors 104, the cam following rolleris on the high part 129 of the cam 17 as illustrated in FIG. IV.

After the chart reading device completes its work by moving all of theweight printing sectors 104 fully over, i.e., away from E (error) toward9 (FIG. XI) and beyond and then allowing them to return each to its ownselected digit position (less a small increment to insure accurate finalpositioning by the detent bar 114), during which time the inked ribbonand record stri cam 16 is returning the ratchet wheels 42 and 63 free,the cam following roller 125 moves immediately from its position shownin "FIG. IV down onto the low part 130 of the cam 17 permitting thespring 126 to draw the long arm 124 against the resilient stop 131 tolower the detent actuating links 115 so that the detent bar 114 isreceived in the locating slots 116 and 146 of the printing sectors 10-4and 143, respectively, to finally align and lock the printing sectorsprior to the roller printing operation.

As illustrated in FIG. IV, a soon as the cam following roller 125 movesdown onto the low part 130 of the cam 17, the inked ribbon and recordstrip cam 16 starts idling through a backlash or free zone wherein nocontact is made with the cam follower plate 22. While the cam followingroller 125 moves along the periphery of the low part 130 of the cam 17,during which time the inked ribbon and record strip cam 16 moves throughthe backlash zone, the printing sectors 104 and 143 are finally alignedand locked and no movement of the inked ribbon 40 or the record strip 55occurs and the printing roller (not shown) within the housing 5 travelsacross the face of the printing type.

As soon as the printing roller completes its travel, the cam followingroller 125 returns to the high part 129 of the cam 17 to unlock theprinting sectors and the reciprocable cam follower plate 22 is so movedby the cam 16 that the ratchet wheels drive the inked ribbon and recordstrip to advance them. The cycle now is complete, the printing sectorsagain being free andfresh portions of the inked ribbon and record stripbeing advanced into the printing station. When the chart reading deviceagain makes a weight reading, the inked ribbon and the record stripalready are positioned in the printing station and the inked ribbon andrecord strip cam 16 returns the ribbon ratchet wheels and the recordstrip ratchet wheel free while the weight reading takes place.

The type 147 on the printing sector 14 3 may print a wide variety ofauxiliary information. For example, customer order or code numbers, orsuch load identification information as Ore, Limestone, Tare, Gross, andNet can be printed. I

The flexible arrangement of the weight printing sectors 104 and theauxiliary information printing sector 143 is provided so that thesectors can be positioned axially on the sector shaft 106 to suit manydifferent printing applications. A illustrated in FIG. VIII, there arefour weight printing sectors 104, one for each decade in a four placenumber to print as high as 9,999 LBS., and a single auxiliary sector143. It is possible to increase the number of auxiliary sectors 143 totwelve by replacing spacers on the sector shaft 106 with sectors andrespacing the detent operating links 115 and changing the length of thedetent bar 114 to accommodate the increased number of sectors. Theprinting sectors can be located anywhere along the sector shaft 106 fromabout their positions shown in FIG. VIII to the end frame 18. Also, gapscan be left in the printed line for customer use by suitably 9separating the printing sectors by means of spacers on the shaft.

After the printing sectors 104 and 143 are spaced on the shaft 196 tosuit a particular industrial installation, the return springs 12 for theweight printing sectors lil i are hooked on the threaded rod 165directly over the sectors. Also, the return springs for the auxiliaryprinting sectors are similarly hooked on the threaded rod 165. Only oneauxiliary sector 143 is shown for the sake of simplicity. It is rotatedinto printing position by punching anyone of the vertical row of keys orbuttons 151 shown on the front of the printer case 6 in FIG. I, therebeing ten of the keys representative of the numbers from zero throughnine.

Return spring 152 for the single sector 143 is like the return springs12 and is connected to a cable 153 which is connected to the hub 145 ofthe sector 143 like the cables 7 are connected to their respective hubsand which is run through a casing 154 that is supported in the cableguide shaft 116 like the cable casings 8 are.

The other end of the casing I54 is clipped at 1534a to a support bar1541) (FIG. III) and the other end of the cable 153 is connected to anarm 155 (FIG. III) secured to a rocker bar 156 of the vertical bank ofkeys 151, the rocker bar 156' being pivoted by means of the keys I51selectively to move the arm 1% and thus, the sector 143. The bank ofkeys is like the bank of keys shown in FIG. IV of US. Patent No.2,746,384. Depression of key 3, for example, shown in FIG. I causesrotation of printing sector 143 into a corresponding position. Thebroken lines in FIG. I indicate that additional vertical rows of keyscan be added as required, there being one row for each sector 14-3.

The-common key release member shown in FIG. IV of said patent isidentified in present FIG. III by the reference character 157 Member 157functions to release the latched ones of the keys in the same way thatthe keys shown in the patent are released, the member 157 being securedto a rocker bar 158 which is pivoted at its ends 159 in a bracket 160that is suitably mounted within the case 6. Depression of a key releasebar 161 (FIG. III) conveniently mounted in juxtaposition with the keys151 which has a pair of legs I62 extending through openings in thebracket 160 and through openings in a plate 163 carried by the bracket160 moves a yoke 164- connecting the legs against a cam 165 secured tothe rocker bar 158 rocking the bar 158 to move the key release member157. Springs 166 around the legs 162 between the bracket 16d and theplate 163 returned the key release bar 161 to its original position whenfinger pressure on it is removed.

It often is desirable to print a consecutive number adjacent each weightprint. This is accomplished automatically by means of a consecutivenumber device 167 shown in FIG. VIII. It comprises a pair of spaced andrigidly interconnected struts 163 on the shaft tea which struts are eachprovided with a slot 169 at their upper ends that receives the cableguide shaft 11 in a snug fit allaround the shaft except at the top ofthe shaft to facilitate sliding the number device 167 axially on theshafts 1G6 and 110. The snug fit at the sides of shaft 11% preventsthenumber device 3.67 from turning about the-axis of shaft 1% and thesnug fit at the bottom of shaft 114 causes the struts 168 to transferpart of the thrust applied by the roller printer to shaft 11!) which isof rugged construction. The lower ends of the struts 168 support betweenthema plurality of rotatably mounted'printing wheels in the printingstation 87 which wheels for the sake of simplicity are-identified by thesingle reference character 17%.- These wheels are like those found in anordinary rubber date stamp and can be turned by finger pressure; A' combspring detent 171 allows the printing wheels tobe turned only in onedirection. A crank arm 172 operatively connected to the wheels isconnectedby means of a-pin 173 to the right hand one of the detentoperating links as viewed in FIG. VIII, 7

the pin being received in a snug fit in a horizontal hole in such link.Everey time that the links 115 are moved up and down during a printingcycle, the crank arm 172 on the consecutive number device 167 is movedup and down to automatically advance the wheels one count.

The consecutive number device 167 can be modified -for repeat printingas shown in FIG. XI. If several identical tickets are to be printed, theconsecutive number device hereinbefore described must be reset by handto repeat the same number. Similar reference numbers in FIGS. VIII andXI identify parts which are alike in structure and in function. Themodified consecutive number device 167a has its pin 173a received in aslot 174 in a detent operating link 115a. Normally, a spring 175 carriedby the link 115a pulls an arm of a bell crank 176 pivoted on the link115a against a stop 177 also on the link 115a. This isthe position ofthe bell crank 176 as shown in solid lines in FIG. XI wherein surface178 on the bottom of the arm of the bell crank holds the pin 173a in alocked position down in the bottom of the slot 174. Movement of thedetent operating links 115a up and down during a printing cycle movesacrank arm 172a up and down to automatically advance the printing wheels17tla of the consecutive number device. T 0 prevent the consecutivenumber device 167a from being ad vanced during. repeat printing, astationarily mounted solenoid 179 is energized to move a roller 180operatively connected thereto into the path of the other arm of the bellcrank 176. This causes the bell crank to pivotclockwise about its pivotpoint 181 on the link 115a on the downward'stroke intoits position shownin broken lines. The lower surface 173 on the bell crank 176 moves outof its cooperating relationship with the pin 173a and as the links 115acontinue to move downward the slot 174 in the link moves relative to thepin 173a and the driving connection between the links 115a and theconsecutive number device 167a is-broken.

It also often is desirable to print the date and/or the time along witheach weight print. This is accomplished by means of a stamp 182. Asillustrated in FIGS. VII and VIII, the stamp 182. is a manually operateddate stamp comprising a pair of struts 183 on the shaft 106 which arelike and interconnected like the pair of struts 168 of the consecutivenumber device 167 and which are mounted on the shafts 106 and 110 likethe struts 168, each of the struts 133 being provided with an opening184 in which the shaft 110 is received in asnug fit all around the shaftexcept at the top of the shaft. A spacer 185 on the shaft 1% separatesthe consecutive number device 167 from the adjacent bushing 117 on theshaft and a spacer 186 on the shaft separates the consecutive numberdevice 167 from the date stamp 182. The lower ends of the struts 133support between them a plurality of rotatably mounting printing wheelsin the printing station 87 which wheels for the sake of simplicity areidentified by the single reference character 187. These wheels are likethose found in an ordinary rubber date stamp and can be turned by fingerpressure. A comb spring detent 191 allows the printing wheels to beturned only in one direction. The date stamp 182 is removed everydaythat the printer is used and theprinting wheels advanced to the correctdate. Alternatively, an ordinary electric clock mechanism can be mountedbetween the struts 183 above the printing wheels 187 to advance thewheels automatically. Also, the printing wheels 187 in such anarrangement, instead of just printing the date, can print the time andthe date. The several printing mechanisms and their respective spacersare held in place on the shaft 106 by means of a collar 188that isretained on the shaft against the last printing mechanism by means of aset screw 189.

After the weight printing sectors 104, the selective numbers printingsectors 143and the struts 137 and 140 are positioned on the shaft 105 tosuit a particular installation, and if such installation does notrequire the printing of consecutive numbers or date information or timeinformation, the collar 188 is positioned on the shaft 106 against theright hand one of the bushings 117 as viewed in FIG. VIII. However, if,after the printer has been in use for a while, it is desired to printconsecutive numbers and date and/ or time information, the consecutivenumber device 167 and the stamp 182 can be added in a matter of secondsby opening the door 196 (FIG. III) of the printer case 6, removing thecollar 188, and sliding the spacer 185, the consecutive number device167, the spacer 186, and the stamp 182 on the shaft 106, the pin 173 ofthe consecutive number device being received in the hole in the detentoperating link 115 for automatic operation as hereinbefore described. Asshown in FIG. VII, no parts of the printer interfere with theconsecutive number device 167 or the stamp 182, such device 167 andstamp 182 being slid axially on the shaft 196 with their respectiveslots 169 and 184 receiving the cable guide shaft 110 as hereinbeforedescribed. Hence, no parts of the printer need be dismantled in addingor removing the device 167 and/or the stamp 182. Conversely, theconsecutive number device 167 and the stamp 182 can be removed in amatter of seconds in the field to adapt the printer to changedconditions. Also, the printer may be used with just one or the other ofthe consecutive number device 167 and the stamp 182 operatively mountedtherein. When the weight printing sectors 1494, the selective numbersprinting sector 143, the consecutive numbers device 167, and the timeand/or date stamp 182 are positioned in the printer as shown in FIG.VIII, the roller printer rolls along the printing station 87 and pressesthe ticket 148 against the inked ribbon 41}, the inked ribbon againstthe record strip 55, and the record strip against the face of the typeof the several printing mechanisms to print straight lines of printedmatter with the several items of separate information spaced to suit theuser of the printer and with gaps left between any of the several itemsof separate information if such are desired by such user. The weightprinting sectors 194 are the basic printing mechanisms common to everyprinter that is used in conjunction with a Weighing scale, the auxiliaryprinting mechanisms being arranged on the production line to suit manydifferent printing applications so that, in effect, custom printers canbe produced by production line methods.

Heretofore, the printing type in industrial printers have been verydifiicult to clean because access to such type was difiicult. Thefeature of the present printer is in the mounting means for and thedesign of the ink ribbon and record strip guides 84 and 85 which permitsthem to be removed without dismantling any parts of the printer in amatter of seconds to facilitate cleaning the type.

Access to the printer is gained by opening the door 190 (FIG. III) ofthe printer case 6. This exposes the ink ribbon and record strip guides54 and 85 which as hereinbefore described are connected together to forma unit assembly. As also hereinbefore described, the guides 84 and 85are removed by moving the latch bar 94 to its unlocked position by meansof finger pressure on its handle 101 and removing the studs 93, carriedby the guides 84 and 85, from their openings in the end frame 18, theink ribbon 40 and the record strip 55 being removed from the guides forthe cleaning operation. As viewed in FIG. VII, it appears that some ofthe printing sectors may obstruc't such removal of the guides. Actually,however, there is no problem. In the first place, all of the printingsectors are operated by hand, when the type are to be cleaned, toposition the printing sectors in a centered position relative to avertical line dropped from the sector shaft 166. This in itself makes itpossible to withdraw the strip guide assembly from the printer withoutdismantling any parts. In the second place, the open ended slottedconstruction of the guides (slot 86) as .hereinbefore described causesthem to flexibly separate 12 at the end frame 18 so that the blocks 91secured to the guides move apart from each other to facilitate clearingany obstructions that may be in the way.

It has been found that the users of the present printer leave thecleaning of the printer go until the record strip is exhausted. Theprinter usually is cleaned and then a fresh record strip is installed.The particular printer which is illustrated is one having a consecutivenumber device 167 (FIG. VIII) and a date and/or time stamp 132 (FIG.VIII) requiring a Wide record strip and inked ribbon. However, many ofthe printers are built and sold Without such consecutive number deviceand stamp and, therefore, with a narrow record strip and inked ribbonmaking removal of the record strip and inked ribbon relatively easy. Therecord strip is removed prior to the removal of the guide assembly withno danger of tearing. This is accomplished by first removing end plate76 (FIG. VII) to expose spools 53 and 54. The supply roll and the takeup roll of paper are pulled out of the machine while the paper is workedout of the guide assembly to leave the assembly free for removal fromthe printer.

The embodiment of the invention described in connec tion with thedrawings is to be regarded as illustrative only since the invention issusceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 744,754, filedon June 26, 1958 in the name of Geoffrey T. Gray.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a printer, in combination, a frame, a shaft attached to the frame,a plurality of members carrying printing type rotatably mounted on theshaft and adapted to be selectively positioned in a printing station, anink ribbon, guide means, formed from a curved strip which defines anopening in registry with said printing station, for guiding the inkribbon through the printing station in a path juxtaposed to the type,the guide means being removable from the printer independently of theink ribbon, and latch means on the frame for removably securing theguide means thereto, the guide means being removed from the frame toexpose the printing type to facilitate cleaning the type by movement ina path substantially parallel to the shaft.

2. In a printer, in combination, a frame, a shaft attached to the frame,a plurality of members carrying printing type rotatably mounted on theshaft and adapted to be selectively positioned in a printing station, anink ribbon, a record strip, a pair of guides that are secured togetherin slightly spaced relationship to form a unit assembly, one of theguides guiding the ink ribbon through the printing station in a pathjuxtaposed to the type, the record strip being guided between the guidesthrough the printing station in a path which is between the type and theink ribbon, and latch means on the frame for removably securing theguides thereto, the guides being removed from the frame as a unitassembly to expose the printing type to facilitate cleaning the type bymovement in a path substantially parallel to the shaft.

3. A printer according to claim 2 wherein each of the guides is formedfrom a similarly curved strip each defining an opening in registry withsaid printing station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,849,921 Green Mar. 15, 1932 2,188,261 Basquin Jan. 23, 1940 2,230,682Fuller Feb. 4, 1941 2,264,855 Pasinski Dec. 2, 1941 2,356,951 RuntonAug. 29, 1944 2,361,662 Spurlino Oct. 31, 1944 2,735,362 Williams Feb.21, 1956 2,777,385 Bachy Jan. 15, 1957 2,780,165 Kuhn Feb. 5, 1957

